Canning machine or apparatus.



` No. 779,537. PATENTED JAN-10,1905. I

S. J. DUNKLEY.

`CANNING MACHINE 0R APPARATUS.

-APP|IOATION FILED MAY 12. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witpessls: Y f l' lljjveigtora I UNiTED STATES Patented I'anuary4 10, 1905.4

PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL J. DUNKLEY, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGN, ASSIGNOR TO DUNKLEY COMPANY, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, A CORPO- RATION OF Ml'CH'IGAN.

SPECIFICATION formngipart of Letters Patent No. 779,537, dated January 10, 1905.

Application filed May i2, 1902. serial Np. 107,032.

[o (LH 101mm/ it 'may rfc/merit:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. 'DUNKLEL a citizen of the United States, residing in Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of' Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Canning Machines or Appa-v ratus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements lin canning machinery, and particularly to improvements in machinery or apparatus for filling cans and eliminating the air therefrom. Heretofore heating and actual boiling have generally been relied on almost exclusively to eliminate air or drive the air from the fruit or other material that is being canned, andl by means of which a large number of cans may be filled at a single operation, the appa- `ratus being so constructed that the cans will be filled to the proper level automatically, which will operate to create a vacu um Within the can, thereby eliminatingthe air such as is retained inside of' berries, like raspberries, or in the interstices in any material, thereby avoiding the necessity of agitating the contents of the jar or can by heating the same to expand the air and drive it out in that way,

by means of which it will be possible in the filling of' fruit-cans or the like to use Vbut a given quantity of' the syrup or iiuidl and return any surplus to the supply-tank, and by V use of which the fruits may be preserved in cans so as to retain their natural condition with f'ull fiavor, and by use of which injury and disintegration ofI the fruit by undue agitation by heating or boiling may be avoided.

My invention consists,` in connection with a supply-tank for the syrup and a heater for heating the same, of' a series of sealing-caps adapted to be temporarily sealed to the cans or vessels and each provided with a fillingpipe and an exhaust-pipe extending through the same, a platform or support for holding a series of cans, and means for forcing the cans or vessels and the temporary sealing- "caps therefor together, by means of' which thus filled are removed from the machine and then hermetically sealed by hermetically securing their permanent caps or covers thereon while the contents are still hot from the heated syrup orV liquid the berries and fruit therein Will properly keep and preserve without the-necessity for further processing or sterilization in many instances or with very slight further heating or sterilization in other instances, thus causing the berries or fruit to retain their natural condition and full flavor, and thus also saving much labor and expense. To enable the cans or vessels to be uniformly filled always to the exact height or extent dcsired or required, the exhaust tube or pipe of each sealing-cap extends a little below the mouth or lower end of the supply-pipe.

My invention also consists in the novel construction of parts and devices and in the novel combinations of parts and devices herein shown or described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus or machine embodying my invention, some of the parts, as the supply-tank and the like, being shown in conventional form. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, taken from the right end of' Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 looking down, no cans be- .ing shown in position and thecan-seat plate being omitted. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail pipes and the gaskets upon the glass cylinder arranged to permit the inspection of the contents during the operation. Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, showing the method of controlling the stop-cocks in the pipes leading to and from the cans; and Figs. 6 and 7 show a modification.

In the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and all of the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the section-lines.

Referring to the drawings, A is a suitable base having standards A' A' near each corner 'thereof extending upwardly and connected by a plate H at or near the top. A platform B is supported adjustably on the standards A `A by suitable collars t, ,having set-screws f j' f j' are temporary sealing caps for the Athe exhaust-tube 0 is provided.

cans or vessels, the support C for the cans or vessels and the series of temporary sealingcaps f being the one movable in respect to the other to enable the cans and sealing-caps t'o be forced together to seal the cans during the air exhausting and filling operations. In practice I prefer to make the can-support C the movable member. It contains holes near each corner and is freely movable up and down on the standards A. L This movement is effected evenly and satisfactorily by four camsV E, supported on the shafts D D, Which have bearings in suitable' brackets secured to the platform B. The cams are connected and paralleled by the levers F F and a rod F between the same and are actuated by means of the lever G and serve to raise the .platform C evenly. The cans a a are placed on this movable platform C. Extending down through the plate H above are pairs of tubes e c. (Detailed ind Fig. 4.) The tubes e are to supply the syrup to the cans, and the tubes o are vacuum-tubes, which are intended to create vacuums within the cans a a and to draw off any surplus syrup or lliquor that may be introduced withinthe same. A pair of these tubes e c extend through each cap j', which is adapted to be temporarily secured (directly or indirectly) to the can or vessel by an interposed gasket or packing-ring 1'. A glass inspection-cylinder f', open at the top and bottom, is preferably interposed between the cap f anda supplemental head f2, with which Gaskets 1" t between the ends of the cylinder f and cap f and head fi to insure tight joints. The pipe o has openings c to permit the liquid to enter the glass inspection-cylinder f. The

- vacuum-tube c extends a little below the supply-tube e. The pipes a and c are supplied with stop-cocks e' c', the valves of which, j, are controlled by means of a common Klever M and bar M, connected by a pivot at lff, (scc Eig. 3,)so that all the valves may be turned simultaneously. The valves are so positioned in relation to each other that on movement of the bar M a suction or vacuum is created in the cans in the first instance and the supplypipes then gradually opened, thus facilitating the elimination of air before the introduction of anyV liquid. Where lfruit is being canned, the fruit is preferably placed in the can before the syrup. This action causes all the interstices in the fruit to become vacuums. so that they readily' absorb and take into their substance any syrup introduced into the can. As soon as the can is filled so thatA the liquid or syrup cornes to the level of the bottom of the suction or vacuum pipe c the syrup or other liquid is drawn off by the suction and the can cannot be filled plete.

The vacuum or suction pipes c are connected to the common pipe J as branches thereof. This pipe J `contains a valve J and leads upwardly into a tank L. The pipe N leads from the tank L to a suitable vacuum-pump or exhaust-chamber to put on the necessary suction. The valve g is in the bottom of thetank L and opens into an auxiliary tank L. A small cock g is in the top of this auxiliary tank and Will permit any syrup or liquid in the tank L to be drawn off at this point. The valve g can then IOO l'lO

be closed and a pipe L, which leads from the bottom of the auxiliary tank L to the main supply-tank K,can be opened, and in this Way the syrup or liquid will be returned to the supply-tank K, where it can be delivered through the su pply-pipes e to the cans again, the syrup being heated in any practical way by steamcoils or direct heat or any other way.

The pipe I, leading from the supply-tank K, is connected to the supplypipes e, which constitute branches of the same. in the pipe I for controlling the sa'me independent of the supply-pipes e below. The supply-pipe I may have a steam-jacket or a nonheat-conductor' covering 1". The air-exhaust device P may be of any suitable kind, but is preferably a vacuum-pump, and an exhaustchamber P' is also preferably interposed in the exhaust-pipe N between the pump and the sealing-caps f. l

The valve I' isY or both, or in the kettle or other vessel where.

the syrup is made. The syrup or liquid as it enters the cans or vessels should be heated to a temperature of about 212O to 2400 Fahrenheit, varying with the different kinds of berries or fruit operated upon. After the cans or vessels are filled with the hot syrup or liquid the vacuum therein is broken by admission of air, this being done by suitable air-inlets mm, which are opened after the filling operation is completed, thu` permitting the cans to be readily separated f m their caps. These air-inlets m m are preferably located in the valves t' j and their casings c e and may thus be opened 'and closed 'by the same means which operate the .valves themselves. As illustrated in the drawings, the valves j are shown in position for open communication between the sealing-caps and the exhaust device and supply-taule the operating-bar M being to the right. By moving the operatingbar M to the left, so as to give the valves about a quarter-turn, communication with the exhaust-pun1p and supply-tank -is closed, and the openings m in the valves z' j, in connection with the openings m in the casings and the main ports through the valves, admit the outer air to the sealing-caps to break the vacuum and permit the ready separation of the cans or vessels from the sealing-caps, as will be readily understood vby reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings.

. The sealing-caps f are rigidly secured'together through the series of pipes e c and are preferably made in separate pieces and independently adjustable, as shown in the drawings. -v

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 6.and 7 there'is substituted for the series of individual sealing-caps f a vacuum-chamber S, which embraces all of the supplyand exhaust pipes and surrounds the cans or vessels @,'the same being closed by a packing a and the plate .'l, upon which the cans rest and which is provided `with sockets t' to receive o'r register the cans with the exhaust and supplypipes.

The plate T rests on the movable support or platform C.

The operation is as follows: The series of cans or vessels a are placed in the series of registering sockets t in the plate T on the movable platform C.' The support' C is then moved up by the operation of the cams E and lever Gr and the cans pressed against the series of sealing-caps. The valve-operating bar M is then moved to the right, thus first opening the valves z', which connect with the exhaust device, so that the, air is first exhausted from thecans, when the further movement of the valves opens the communication through the valves j with the supply-tank. The heatcd liquid or syrup then flows into the cans, filling the same all uniformly to the level determined by the projecting lo'wer end of the exhaust-pipes, any surplus being drawn off through the exhaust-pipes. -As soon as it appears through the glass ins pection-cylinder f that the cans are all uniformly filled the valveoperating bar M is moved tothe left, thus closing communication between the sealinglcaps and exhaust device and supply-tank and admitting the outer air to break the vacuums in the series of cans or vessels, so that the same may be readily removed from the sealing-caps, and then the support C is again lowered.

I claim- 1. A canning machine or apparatus comprising in combination a supply-tank for the syrup or liquid, a heater therefor, an air-'ex-l haust device or pump, a series of can-sealing caps each having an exhaust-pipe and a supply-pipe'` extending through the same and adapted to enter the mouth or opening of the can, and a reciprocating platform or support upon which the cans or vessels rest and by which the cans or vessels are forced against said sealing-caps, and means for controlling the communication between said exhaust-pipes and exhaust devices and said supply-pipe and supply-tank, whereby the airis simultaneously exhausted from a number of cansand the cans then simultaneously filled while the air is exhausted therefrom, substantially as specified. l

2. A canning machine or apparatus comprising in combination a supply-tank for the syrup or liquid, a heater therefor, an air-exupon which the cans or vessels rest and by which the cans or vessels are forced against said sealing-caps, and means for controlling IOO the communication-between said pipes andsaid exhaust devices and between said supplypipe and supply-tank, whereby the air is simultaneously exhausted from a number `of cans, and the cans then simultaneously filled while'the air is exhausted therefrom, the exhaustpipes extending slightly vbelow the mouth or lower end of the-supply-pipes to cause all the cans to be filled uniformly with- (u waste or overfiow, substantially as speci- 3. In a canningmachine or apparatus, the combination with a supply-tank for the syrup or liquid, of a heater, an air-exhaust device, a series of can-sealing caps, a series of pairs of exhaust and supply pipes extending through said caps and adapted to enter the mouth or opening of the can and communicating respectively with saidA exhaust devices and supplytank, and valves for controlling such communication, a platform or' support for the cans and means for forcing together the sealingcaps and cans, substantially as specified.

4. In a canning machine or apparatus, the combination with a supply-tank for the syrup or liqu'id,l of a heater, an air-exhaust device, a series of can-sealing caps, a series of pairs of exhaust and supply pipes extending through said caps and adapted to enter the cans, and provided with valves, a platform or support for the cans, and -means for forcing together the sealing-caps and cans, and means for operating said valves, substantially as specified.

5. In a canning machine or apparatus, the combination with a supply-tank for the syrup or liquid, of a heater, an air-exhaust device, a series of .can-sealing caps, a series of pairs of exhaust and supply pipes extending through said caps and adapted to enter the cans and provided with valves, a platform or support for the cans, and means for forcing together the sealing-caps and cans, and means for simultaneousl;7 opening said valves in the exhaust-pipes and subsequently simultaneously opening said valves in the supply-pipe, substantially as specified.

6. In a canning machine or apparatus, the combination with a supply-tank for the syrup or liquid, of a heater, an air-exhaust device, a series of can-sealing caps,.a series of pairs of exhaust and supplypipes extending through said caps and adapted to enter the cans and communicating respectively with said exhaust device and supply-tank, and valves for controlling such communication, a 4platform orl support for the cans, and means for forcing together the sealing-caps and cans, said exlhaust-pipes extending slightly below the lower ends or mouths of the supply-pipes, substantially as specified.

7 The combination with an exhaust device, of a supply-tan k, a series of sealing-caps, each having communication with the exhaust device and with the supply-tank, valves for controlling such communication, a platform or support for a series of cans, and means for forcing the cans and sealing-caps together, and

. means for operating said valves to iirst open communication between the exhaust device andthe series of sealing-caps, and then being-cap being adapted to enter the can, substantially as specified,

9. The combination with an exhaust device, of a supply-tank K, supply-pipe I, a series of branch pipes e, exhaust-pipe J, a series of branchexhaust-pipes c, tank L, tank L', sealing-caps f, to which said branch supplyfand exhaust pipes are connected, and through which the interior of each can is connected with the supply and exhaust, and movable platform C, and means for controlling the communication between the sealing-caps and the exhaust device and supply-tank, substantially as specified. l

l10. The combination with an exhaust device, of a supply-tank K, supply-pipe I, a series of branch supply-pipes e, exhaust-pipe J, a series of branch exhaust-pipes c, tankL, tank L', sealing-caps f to which said branch supply and exhaust pipes are connected, movable platform C, said supply and exhaustpipes c and o being furnished withvalves and mechanism for operating said valves, one pair of said supply and exhaust pipes e c projecting through each cap into the can sealed thereby, substantially as specified.

11. The combination with an exhaust device, of a supply-tank K, supply-pipe I, a series of branch supply-pipes e, exhaust-pipe J, a series of branch exhaust-pipes c, tank L, tank L', scaling-caps f to which said branch supply and exhaust pipes are connected, movable platform G, cams E and levers G for operating said platform, said supply and exhaust pipes e anda@ being furnished with valves and mechanism forioperating said valves, one pair of said supply and exhaust pipes e c projecting through each sealing-cap into the can sealedY thereby, substantially as specified.

l2. The combination with an exhaust device, of a supply-tank, a sealing-cap having supply and exhaust pipes extending through the same and adapted to enter the mouth or opening ofthe can sealed by said cap, valves for each of said pipes and means for operating said valves, a can platform or support,

and means for forcing thesealing-cap and can together, substantially vas specified.

13. The combination with au exhaust delvice, of a supply-tank, a sealing-cap having supply and exhaust pipes extending through the sameand adapted to enter the mouth or opening of the can sealed by said cap, and means for controlling said pipes, a can support or platform and means for forcing the sealing-cap and can together, said exhaustpipe extending below the supply-pipe, substantially as specified.l

14. The combination with an exhaust device, a supply-tank, a sealing-cap having communications through the same into thevinterior of the can sealed thereby with the exhaust device and with the supply-tank, a reciprocating cansupport,'mechanis m for operating said sllpport, valves insaid exhaust and supply p pes, and means for successively opening .first the exhaust-pipe valve and then the suprior of the can sealed thereby with the exhaust device and with the supply-tanlLa reciprolcating can-support, mechanism for operating said support, valves in said exhaust and snpply pipes, meansfor successively openinglirst the exhaust-pipe valve and then the supplypipekvalve, and a supplemental tank in communication with the exhaust-pipe for collecting and returning to the supply-tank the surplus lied.v Y y 16. 1n acanning apparatus, the combination'of the base A with standards A',v an adjustable platform B, a movable platform C on which the cans lareplaced, cams supported on syrup or liquid, substantially as speci- 'the adjustablev platform with suitable'levers for actuating the same, a'plate H toward the top of "said standards, a pair of tubes e c at 'suitableintervals through the plate H adapted to project into `the mouth Vof the can ,to bej lilled,one of which pipes is asupply-pip'e and the other ofY which is a suction-pipe, the mouth of the suction-pipe being below the inouth of the supply-pipe, valves in said pipes for controlling the sameya connecting-arm to` said valves connected'to the same and timed to operate to open the suction-pipe in advance of the supply-pipe, and a suitable supply-tank connected to the supply-pipes and a suitable valve in an exhaust-pipe connected to the sev- Per'al pipes leading `to the cans, all coacting substantially as described, forthe purpose specified. j

17. In a canning apparatus,'the combination of a supply-pipe,I a suction-pipe, the end of which is a littlebelow the mouth of the supply-pipe, a sealing-capf through which said pipes extendfinto lthe can sealed thereby, a

' glass cylinder f' open at the top and bottom,

a supplemental cap f2, gaskets r at the ends of said' glass cylinder, and a gasket 1 between the cap yand can' whereby the air -can be exhausted from the can and its contents to create vacuums in all the interstices whereby Whenasyrupis introduced'it will beabsorbed into the contents of thecan, substantially as specified.

` A18. Ina canningapparatus, the combination of a supply-pipe, a suctionfpipe the rend of which is a little below the mouth of the sup.-

il-u nmr pipes extend into the can sealed by said cap, gaskets for said caps, valves. for said pipes and means 4for opera-tingsaid valves,whereby the air can be exhausted from the can and its contents to create yvacuums'in all the interstices whereby, lwhen a syrup is introduced it will be absorbed into the contents of the65 lexhausted from the can and then the syrup or liquor introduced which will then be readily absorbed into the contents of the can, for the purpose specified.

20. Inacan ning apparatus, the combination with a sealing-cap, of a supply-pipe, an exhaust-pipe, the mouth of which is a little belowthe mouth of the supply-pipe, valvesfor said pipes and means for operati-ng said valves, whereby the .point to which the can will be filled by the syrup or liquid is"under control, both of said pipes extending through said sealing-cap into the'can ysealed thereby. v

21. Inacanning apparatus, the combination with, a seriesof sealing-caps, of a supply-pipe and an exhaust-pipe for and extending through each'cap into the can sealed thereby, a valve in each of saidpipes with armsthereon having lateral pins, a bar with transverse slots therein embracingthe pins on the arms of the valves wherebythe valves can all be operated simultaneously and suitably timed to open the exhaust-pipes in advance of the supply-pipes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

22.l In a canning machine-or apparatus, the combination with a supply-tank for the syrup or liquid, of a heater, an air-exhaust device,

v'a seriesof can-sealing caps, a series of pairs of exhaust and supply pipes extending through said caps, a platform or support for the cans, and means for forcing together the sealingcaps and cans, said .supply and exhaust pipes being provided with air-inlets and means for opening and closing the same, so that after the air-exhausting and. -lilling' operations are vcompleted the' yvacuum in the cans may be broken to permit the separation of the cans IOO ILO

from the 'sealing-caps, substantially as specil fied.

23. In acanning machine or apparatus, the combination with avsupply-tank for the syrup or liquid, of a heater, an'air-exhaust device, a series lof can-sealing caps, a series' of pairs of exhaust and supply pipes extending through said caps and provided with valves, a platform or support for the cans, and means for forcing together the sealing-caps and cans, and

means for operating said valves, said valves being provided with air-inlets to break the vacuum in the cans or vessels after the filling operation is completed, substantially as speellied.

24. The combination with an exhaust device, a supply-tank, a series of sealing-caps,

a series of pairs of supply-pipes and exhaustair-inlets and Valves for Opening and closing v pipes extending through said sealing-caps, said supply and exhaust pipes and air-inlets, 20 means for controlling the communication besubstantially as specified. tween said sealing-capsand said supply-tank, a 26. The combination with an exhaust de- 5 reciprocating platform or support for a series vice,a supply-tank, a sealing-cap having comof cams, and mechanism for reciprocating said munication With the exhaust device and with supports, said supply and exhaust pipes being the supply-tank, a reciprocating can-support,` 25 provided with air-inlets and means for openmechanism for operating said support, valves ing` and closing the same, so thatV after the l in said exhaust and supply pipes, means forY l0 air-exhausting and filling operations are comsuccessively opening first the exhaust pipe'- pleted the vacuum in the cans may be broken valve and then the supply-pipe valve, and air' to permit the separation ot' the cans from the inlets opened and closed by said valves, sub- 30 sealing-caps, substantially as specitied. d stantially as specified.

25. The combination with an exhaust e- 15 vice, of a supply-tank, a sealing-cap having SAMUEL J" DUNKLEY' supply and exhaust pipes extending through Witnesses: the same, a can platform or upport, means H. M. MUNDAY, for forcing the sealing-cap and can together, WM, GEIGER. 

